Combination table



H. G. WELSBACHER 2,184,206

COMBINATION TABLE Filed Jan. 11, 1939 3 SheetSSheet 1 Hazyfflekfiaqienwn'N 5% i ATTORNEYS H. G. WELSBACHER 2J84O6 COMBINATION TABLE Filed Jan.11, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORN EYS H. s. WELSBACHER 2 184306"-OMBINATI"- F -ed Jan. 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ANVENTOR Patented Dec. 19,1939 Z,l.tii,2%-

rut trier;

13 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in tables or the like.

An important object of my invention is to provide a table that is uniquein its construction owhereby it may be adapted to a variety of uses.Another object of my invention is to provide a table, the frame of whichis adjustable to receive a plurality of tops of varying shapes anddesigns.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a table, the frame ofwhich is adjustable so that the top thereof may be converted into ascreen, thereby presenting a very attractive appearance.

Still another object of my invention is to pro vide a table which isattractive in appearance, durable in use, and inexpensive tomanufacture.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during thecourse of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same,

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view showing parts in elevation ofdevice embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is transverse sectional view taken on the line 2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line Eli-3 ofFigure 1,

Figure 4 is sectional view illustrating the method of clamping the tabletop on the frame thereof,

Figure 5 is a view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the linet-il of Figure l and showing the legs in open position,

Figure '7 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View taken on the lineli of Figure 1, and showing the legs in closed position,

Fi ure 8 is a plan view of the frame in a partly closed position,

Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of one of the tops embodying a part of myinvention,

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectionalriew of the clamping meansassociated with the top illustrated in Figure 9,

Figure ll is a View taken on the line i !-H of 50 Figure it,

Figure 12 is a plan view of the clamp illustrated in Figures 1G and 11,

Figure 13 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the lineiii-A3 of Figure 1, showing parts broken away,

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken on the line iii-J4 of Figure 13,

Figure 15 is a top plan View of my device, illustrating it as acombination table and screen,

Figure 16 is an end elevation of the same,

Figure 1'? is a top plan view showing the table removed and the deviceused as a screen or easel,

Figure 18 is a rear elevation of the same, and

Figure 19 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lower brace membersof the frame.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral Ell designate asubstantially U-shaped leg member, the open ends 2i of which are bentoutwardly to receive the circular floor pieces 22 thereon. The bracemember 23 is formed with a flat center portion 24 and arms 25 extendingoutwardly and upwardly therefrom to engage the leg member 23. Thenumeral 26 designates a hub-shaped piece comprising upper and lowercircular disks 2?, adjacent the U-shaped member 2% and the brace member23, respectively, and having interposed therebetween a tubular member28. The upper plate 2'! is provided with arcuated slots 29 which receivescrew-threaded bolts 29 depending from the U-shaped member 28 and permitthe hub member 26 to be rotated with respect to the frame. Wing nuts 31!are carried by the bolts underneath the flange 21 and permit the hubmember 26 to be locked in any desired position with respect to theframe. The bottom plate 2? is similarly formed with arcuated slots whichreceive bolts and wing nuts 3i and 32, respectively.

The supporting legs 33 and 3d are formed with a vertical upright portion35 terminating at the lower end in an outwardly bent portion 36 whichcarries a circular floor piece 3i thereon. The upper portions of themembers 33 and 3d are bent inwardly at right angles thereto and theinner ends 38 and 39 thereof are riveted or otherwise secured to theupper plate 21 of the hub member 26. The inner ends 388 and 39 arechamfere'd so that the diagonal edges thereof will lie adjacent thelongitudinal edge of the U-shaped leg member 28 when the hub member 26is rotated to the closed position, as illustrated in Figure '7. Thesupporting legs 33 and 34 are provided with braces Ml and M which areriveted at their inner ends to the lower plate 2? of the hub member 2tand at their outer ends to the leg supporting member adjacent theupright portion 35, and the inner ends of the braces ii) and 4| arechamfered as at 12 and 43 in accordance with the supporting legs so thatthe chamfered edges thereof will be adjacent the longitudinal edge ofthe brace 23 when the legs of the table are in the folded position.

Riveted or otherwise secured to the U-shaped member a substantialdistance from the open end thereof is a brace 44 and extendingvertically through the said brace 44, brace member 23, and housed withinthe tubular member 28 of the hub 26 and terminating substantially abovethe U- shaped leg member 20 is a shaft 45. The shaft $5 is provided atits upper end with a hinged extension dt which is ordinarily housedwithin the tubular member 23 of the hub member 26. A circular plate 4"is rotatably mounted on the shaft 45 adjacent the under side of thebrace 46 and is held in appressed relation with the brace by the boltsand wing nuts 48 and it, respectively, which extend through arcuatedslots Ell in the said plate. The supporting legs 33 and 34 are providedwith braces 5! and 52 which are riveted or otherwise secured to the saidmembers at their outer ends and to the circular plate ll at their innerends. The inner ends are chamfered in a manner similar to the braceshereinbef'ore described and for the same reason. Additional braces 53and 54 are provided diagonally of the U-shaped member 2!] and thetransverse brace M, the ends 55 and 56 of which are secured to theU-shaped member adjacent its outer ends 2! and the other ends 57 and 58of the braces 53 and 54 are fastened to the cross brace A l adjacent thecircular plate 47. The supporting legs 33 and 3d are similarly providedwith diagonally disposed braces 59.

From the structure hereinbefore outlined it will be apparent that thesupporting legs 33 and 3 may be made to assume a right angular relationwith the U-shaped strip 28 by virtue of the arcuate slots in thecircular plates 2'! and M or that, due to this same construction, thesupporting legs 33 and 34 may be made to assume an acute angularrelation with the U-shaped member 29 and that they may be held in thedesired position by the bolts and thumb nuts extending through arcuateslots in the plates.

I have provided a table top supporting member comprising a center disk68 which is adapted to fit over the upwardly extending end of the hingedextension 45 of the shaft 55. Extending outwardly from the disk 60 areright angularly disposed arms 6! in spaced parallelism with the top ofthe U-shaped leg member 28 and the supporting legs 33 and 345 when thesupporting legs are in right angular relation with the said U-shapedmember 28. The arms 6| are provided adjacent their ends with dependingpins 52 adapted to engage registering openings in the top of theU-shaped member 20 and supporting legs 33 and 34. The ends of the pins62 are provided with slotted openings adapted to receive the key 63which is pivoted to the under side of the U-shaped member 28 and thesupporting legs 33 and 3 5 as illustrated in Figure 5.

The disk 68 is provided with an axially extending bore M whichcommunicates at its inner end with hinged extension it of the shaft 45and has screw-threadedly afiixed in its outer end a plug 65. A plunger66 is formed with an inwardly extending shank Bl which extends throughthe plug 65, the bore (i i and into a registering opening in the top ofthe extension Q5. The shank 6? has formed thereon an angular flange ii?within the bore 64 and interposed between the flange and the plug 65 isa circular spring 68 which is resilient in its action to hold the shank6'? within the opening in the extension it, but will permit the plunger6'! to be retracted against the action of the spring to bring the saidshank out of engagement with the extension 66 and permitting the releaseof the disk 69 therefrom.

Positioned at the ends of the arms 6! are rackets t9 having an upwardlyextending flange it upon which is. formed a hollow cylinder H andscrew-threadedly engaging the cylinder H is a cap '52. A pintle 73 ispositioned within the cylinder ll and is formed with an enlarged headportion l exteriorly of the cap 72 and an inwardly extending shank l5extending therefrom through the flange iii of the bracket 68 andterminating a substantial distance from the inner side thereof. Formedon the shank i5 and within the cylinder H is an annular flange l6 andinterposed between the flange l6 and the cap 12 is a circular spring llwhich is resilient in its action to permit the pintle '13 to beretracted to bring the end of the shank l5 flush with the upright flangell) of the bracket 69. The bases of the brackets 69 are provided with afelt pad 13 to protect the surface of the table top 79 which is hereillustrated as being substantially square in plan and having openings 80at each of its four corners. The openings 80 receive the bracket 69 andthe parts formed thereon in their entirety, and the inner sides of theopenings 80 are provided with cul-de-sacs 8! which receive the shank 2'5of the pintle 13 when the said shank is held in the innermost positionunder the action of the spring 17.

It may be seen that this arrangement of locking the table top to theframe will permit either side of the top to be used. This is oftendesirable in cases where games are played on a table,

whereby one side of the top may have a game i such as a checker boardmarked thereon, and the other side may have a different game or befinished in the conventional manner. One surface of the table may befinished in the form of a picture or a screen, and at times it may bedesirable to place this side in a vertical position and it is for thispurpose that I have provided the hinged extension 46 on the shaft. Itmay be seen that the shank 46 may be pulled upwardly so that the hingedportion thereof will be above 4 the top of the U-shaped member 20.

When the U-shaped member 2!! and the supporting legs 33 and 3t have beenfolded to a closed position as illustrated in Figure 17, the

shaft 45 is pulled upwardly until the hinged por- I tion is above thetop of the u-sifaped member 20 and the shank 45 assumes a horizontalposition. The shank is made to substantially bisect the larger anglebetween the legs so that the table may be received therebetween, asclearly illustrated in Figures 1'7 and 18.

When it is desired that the device be used entirely as a screen, it willbe necessary that the top assume a vertical position with its lower edgesubstantially on the floor, as illustrated in Figure 16, and for thispurpose I have joined two adjacent ends of the cross bars 6! with asupporting strip 82 and adjacent either end thereof are slotted openings83. When the table is in this position, I find it desirable to provide asecond top for the frame and, as here illustrated, the said second topis of substantially rectangular formation in plan and finished in theconventional manner. The under surface of this top carries a pair ofspaced bars 84 adjacent to and parallel with the shorter sides.Depending from these bars are pins 85 constructed similarly to the pins62 in a manner whereby they may be received within the registeringopenings in the top of the supporting legs 33 and 3 and U-shaped member20. Pivoted to one end of the bars M are clamp members 86. The clampmembers 86 are formed with an outer hooked end 8! and intermediate itsends thereof is a slot 88 adapted to receive the bolt and wing nuts 89and 98, respectively. As illustrated in Figure 16, the legs of the tableare made to assume the folded position and the rectangular top is placedthereon and firmly aflxed thereto in a manner hereinbefore described.The clamps 3t projecting from one longitudinal end thereof are adaptedto be received within the slotted openings 83 within the bar 32. Forthis purpose the wing nut 98 is loosened so that the clamps 86 may bepivoted inwardly and the hook ends Bl inserted within the slottedopenings 83. When the clamps 86 have been pivoted outwardly so that thehook end 86 engages with the outer edge of the slotted openings 83 thewinged nuts 953 are tightened and hold the clamps in fixed engagementwith the bar 82.

Adjacent the closed end of the U-shaped member 283 and the top of thesupporting legs 33 and Ed, I have pivotally attached arms 91 which carryreceptacles $1 12 at their outer ends. As illustrated in Figure l, thereceptacles 92 may be pivoted to a position underneath the table top ormade to assume a position cxteriorly thereof. The receptacles 92 may beused for holding glasses, or the like, when the table is used as a teaor card table.

Carried by the shaft 45 adjacent the cross brace M is a bearing 93. Thebearing 93 is formed with an annular flange 94 at its lower end, andbearing against the inner face of the flange M is a circular disk 95which supports the tray 96. As illustrated in Figure 1, the tray will bepositioned centrally of the table in a manner whereby it will notinterfere with persons seated at the table. The tray may be used for anydesired purpose, such as holding drinkmixing utensils, glasses, or thelike. Carried by the cross braces M, iii and 52 adjacent the U- shapedmember 2i. and the supporting legs 33 and 3 are plates E93, andextending upwardly therefrom are supporting arms 98 which carry anannular spring 99 therearound. The spring 9 is sufficiently taut to holdtherein a container such as a tall glass, or the like.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and thatvarious changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or thescope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a table, the combination of a frame constituting an invertedU-shaped strip, the arms of which comprise leg portions; a brace memberjci: ng the arms of the said U-shaped membera substantia from the endsthereof; a vertically disposed shaft carried centrally by the said stripand the said brace member; a plate member rot ably carried by the shaftadjacent the said l-5..l.dp8d member; and leg members formed with rightangularly disposed top portions, the ends of which are secured to thesaid plate and rotatable therewith.

2. In a table, the combination of a frame constituting an invertedU-shaped strip, the arms of which comprise leg portions; a brace memberjoining the arms of the said U-shaped member a substantial distance fromthe ends thereof; a vertically disposed shaft carried centrallyby thesaid strip and the said brace member; a plate member rotatably carriedby the shaft adjacent the said U-shaped member; leg members formed withright angularly disposed top portions, the ends of which are secured tothe said plate and rotatable therewith; and means to maintain the saidrotatable plate in fixed relation with the said U-shaped strip.

3. In a table, the combination of a frame constituting an invertedU-shaped strip, the arms of which comprise leg portions; a brace memberjoining the arms of the said U-shaped strip a substantial distance fromthe ends thereof; a vertically disposed shaft centrally carried by thesaid strip and the said brace member; a supporting strip having a fiatcentral portion mounted on the said shaft and with the ends thereofextending outwardly and upwardly therefrom and secured to the saidU-shaped member; a hub-shaped element having spaced upper and lowerflanges and a tubular connecting portion rotatably mounted on the saidshaft between the U-shaped strip and the said supporting strip; legmembers formed with right angularly disposed top portions, the ends ofwhich are secured to the upper flange of the said hub-shaped element androtatable therewith; and brace members connecting the said leg membersand the said lower flange of the said hub-shaped element.

4. In a table, the combination of a frame constituting an invertedU-shaped strip, the arms of which comprise leg portions, a brace memberjoining the arms of the said U-shaped member a substantial distance fromthe ends thereof, a vertically disposed shaft centrally carried by thesaid strip and the said brace member, a plate member having arcuatedslots rotatably carried by the shaft adjacent the said U-shaped member,screw-threaded pins formed on the said U- shaped member and extendingthrough the arouated slots in the said plate, wing nuts carried by thepins below the said plate and adapted to maintain the same in a fixednon-rotatable relation with the said U-shaped strip, and leg membersformed with right angularly disposed top portions, the ends of which aresecured to the said plate and rotatable therewith.

5. In a table, the combination of a frame constituting an invertedU-shaped strip, the arms of which comprise leg portions, a brace memberjoining the arms of the said U-shaped member a substantial distance fromthe ends thereof, a vertically disposed shaft carried centrally by thesaid strip and the said brace member and extending a substantialdistance above the said U-shaped flange, a plate member rotatablycarried by the shaft adjacent the said U-shaped member, leg membersformed with right angularly disposed top portions, the ends of which aresecured to the said plate and rotatable therewith, a disk mounted on theupwardly extending end of the said shaft, right angularly disposed armsextending therefrom in spaced parallel relation with the said legportions, clamp means positioned at the ends of the said right angularlydisposed arms, and a table top adapted to be clamped by the said clampmeans.

6. In a table, the combination of a frame constituting an invertedU-shaped strip, the arms of Which comprise leg portions, a brace memberjoining the arms of the said U-shaped member a substantial distance fromthe ends thereof, a vertically disposed shaft carried centrally by thesaid strip and the said brace member and extending a substantialdistance above the said U- shaped flange, a plate member rotatab-lycarried by the shaft adjacent the said U-shaped memher, leg membersformed with right angularly isposed top portions, the ends of which aresecured to the said plate and rotatable therewith, a disk mounted on theupwardly extending end of the said shaft, right angularly disposed armsextending therefrom in spaced parallel relation with the said leg,portions, bracket members having a vertically disposed flange positionedat the ends of the said right angularly disposed arms, a hollow cylinderformed on the said flange, a cap for the said cylinder, a plungerextending through the cap and the cylinder and terminating a substantialdistance beyond the said cylinder, an annular flange formed on theplunger and within the said cylinder, a spring interposed between theflange the cap to permit the outwardly extending end of the said plungerto be retracted within the cylinder against the action of the saidspring, and a table top having openings at its corners adapted toreceive the said cylinder and plunger therein and a cul-desac in theinner face of the said openings to receive the projecting ends of thesaid plungers.

7. In a table, the combination of a pair of inverted U-shaped members,said U-shaped members disposed in right angular relation with each otherand secured at their point of intersection, brace members joining thedepending arms of the said U-shaped members a substantial distance fromtheir ends thereof, a vertically disposed shaft carried centrally by thesaid U- shaped members and the said brace members and extending asubstantial distance above the said U--shaped member and with a boretransversely therethrough adjacent its end thereof, a disk mounted onthe upwardly extending end of the said shaft and having a bore extendingfrom the shaft to the outer periphery of the disk and in register withthe bore in the said shaft of the said disk, a plug member positioned inthe bore, a plunger extending through the said plug and terminatingwithin the transv rse bore of the shaft, an annular flange formed on theplunger within the bore of the said disk, spring means interposedbetween the flange and the said plug member and permitting the plungerto be retracted within the bore against the action of the said spring,right angularly disposed arms extending from the disk in spaced parallelrelation with the tops of the said U-shaped portions, clamp meanspositioned at the ends of the said right angularly disposed arms, and atable top adapted to be secured thereon by the said clamp means.

8 In a table, the combination of a pair of inverted U-shaped membersjoined in right angular relation with each other, a shank member carriedby the said U-shaped strips at the point of junction and extendingupwardly therefrom, a disk mounted on the said upwardly extending shank,right angularly disposed extending therefrom in spaced parallel relationwith the tops of U-shaped portions, pins formed on the said outwardlyextending arms and adapted to be inserted in registering openings in thesaid U-shaped members and to hold the said disk against rotation, clampmeans positioned at the ends of the said right angularly disposed arms,

and a table top adapted to be clamped by the said clamp.

9. In a table, the combination of a pair of inverted U-shaped membersjoined in right angular relation with each other, a shank member carriedby the said U-shaped strips at their point of junction and extendingupwardly therefrom, a disk rotatably mounted on the said upwardlyextending shank, right angularly disposed arms extending from said diskin spaced parallel relation with the U-shaped portions, pins formed onthe said outwardly extending arms and adapted to be inserted inregistering opening in the said U-shaped members and tohold the saiddisk against rotation, bracket members having a vertically disposedflange positioned at the ends of the said right .angularly disposedarms, a hollow cylinder formed on the said flange, a cap for the saidcylinder, a plunger extending through the cap and the cylinder andterminating a substantial distance beyond the said cylinder, an annularflange formed on the plunger and within the said cylinder, a springinterposed between the flange and the cap to permit the outwardlyextending end of the said plunger to be retracted within the cylinderagainst the action of the said spring, a table top having openings atits corner adapted to receive the said cylinder and plunger therein, anda cul-de-sac in the inner face of the said openings to receive theprojecting ends of the said plunger.

10. In a table, the combination of a frame constituting an invertedU-shaped strip, the arms of which comprise leg portions; a brace memberjoining the arms of the said U-shaped strip a substantial distance fromthe ends thereof; a vertically disposed shaft centrally carried by thesaid strip and the said brace member; a shank comprising a continuationof the said shaft hingedly secured to the upper end thereof; asupporting strip having a flat central portion mounted on the said shaftand with the ends thereof extending outwardly and upwardly therefrom andsecured to the said U-shaped member; a hub-shaped element having spacedupper and lower flanges and a tubular connecting portion rotatablymounted on the shaft between the U-shaped strip and the said supportingstrip and adapted to house the said shank; leg members formed with rightangularly disposed top portions, the ends of which are secured to theupper flange of the said hub-shaped element and rotatable therewith;brace members connecting the said leg members and the said lower flangeof the said hub element; a table top supporting member comprising acentral disk portion mounted on the end of the said shank; rightangularly disposed arms extending therefrom in spaced parallel relationwith the said leg portions; clamp means positioned at the ends of thesaid right angularly disposed arms; and a table top adapted to beclamped by the said clamp means, the said table top supporting memberand the table top being adapted to lie in a horizontal position on thesaid leg members, or to assume a vertical position by pulling the hingedportion of the shank above the top of the leg members and permitting thesaid shank to assume a horizontal position due to its hinged relationwith the said shaft.

11. In an article of manufacture, the combi nation of a frameconstituting an inverted U- shaped strip, the arms of Which comprise legportions; a brace member joining the arms of the said U-shaped strip asubstantial distance from the ends thereof; a vertically disposed shaftcentrally carried by the said strip and the said brace member; a shankcomprising a continuation of the said shaft hingedly secured to theupper end thereof; a supporting strip having a flat central portionmounted on the said shaft and with the ends thereof extending outwardlyand upwardly therefrom and secured to the said U-shaped member; ahub-shaped element having spaced upper and lower flanges and a tubularconnecting portion rotatably mounted on the shaft between the U-shapedstrip and the said supporting strip and adapted. to house the saidshank; leg members formed with right angularly disposed top portions,the ends of which are secured to the upper flange of the said hubshapedelement and rotatable therewith; brace members connecting the said legmembers and the said lower flange of the said hub element; a table tophaving pins depending from its under surface and adapted to be insertedin registering openings in the said leg members; spaced bars mounted onthe under side of the table top and extending beyond one edge thereof; ascreen supporting member comprising a central disk portion; rightangularly disposed arms extending therefrom; clamp means positioned atthe ends of the said right angularly disposed arms; a brace memberjoining the adjacent ends of the said arms and having openings thereinto receive the bars projecting from the said table top; and a screenadapted to be removably secured thereto by the clamping means on thesaid arms.

12. In an article of manufacture, the combination of a pair of invertedU-shaped members, said members comprising legs and being joined at theirpoint of intersection; brace members joining the depending arms of thesaid U- shaped members a substantial distance from their ends thereof; atable top having pins depending from its under surface and adapted to beinserted in registering openings in the said U- shaped members; spacedbars mounted on the under side of the table top and extending beyond oneedge thereof; a central disk portion; right angularly disposed armsextending therefrom; clamp means positioned at the ends of the saidright angularly disposed arms; a brace member joining adjacent ends ofthe said arms and having openings therein to receive the bars projectingfrom the said table top; and a screen adapted to be removably attachedby the clamping means of the said arms.

13. In a table, the combination of a pair of inverted U-shaped members,said members comprising legs and being joined at their point ofintersection, brace members joining the depending arms of the saidU-shaped members a substantial distance from their ends, a table tophaving pins depending from its under surface and adapted to be insertedin registering openings in the said U-shaped members, clamp meanscarried by the said U-shaped members to hold the said pins firmly inplace, spaced bars mounted on the under side of the table top andextending beyond one edge thereof, a disk member, right angularlydisposed arms extending therefrom, clamp means positioned at the ends ofthe said right angularly disposed arms, a brace member joining adjacentends of the said arms and having openings therein to receive the barsprojecting from the said table top, and a screen adapted to be removablysecured by the said clamping means of the said arms.

HARRY G. WELSBACHER.

